spirit of meeknesse and humility of unity love and charity Gal. 6.1 Col. 3.12 13. 1 Joh. 4.6 7. Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of errour 1 Joh. 4.6 Even by love and charity therefore it followes Beloved let us love one another for love comes of God and every one that loves is borne of God and knoweth God and he that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love Quest 16 Whether they be not seducers that draw people from the anointing which is in them and tell them they must be taught of a man whereas the annointing teacheth them they need no man teath them but as the anointing teacheth them and the promise is to him that doth abide in it eternally Answ By the anointing within is meant that measure and proportion of spiritual wisdome and understanding in the things of God 1 Joh. 2.27 whereby according to command we are enabled to try the spirits whether they be of God or no 1 Joh. 4.1 because many false prophets are gone forth which the foregoing words doth imply c. 26. These things have I written unto you concerning them that deceive you Now this spirituall unction or knowledg of the truth which is from the Spirit whosoever hath received need not be taught of man if he abide in the truth which he hath received and do not give heed to seduceing spirits And I would to God that all who are called the Lords people had their hearts sprinkled with this spirituall ointment and their eyes anointed with this eye-salve Rom. 3.38 that they might see to discern betwixt light and darknesse betwixt true prophets and such as deceive the simple lest suffering themselves being blind to be led by the blind they both fall into the ditch Mat. 15.14 Quest 17 Whether they do not bewitch the people who withdraw them from the spirit within to observe the ordinances of the world and traditions of men without as the Galatians were bewitched Gal. 3.1 Answ I must tell you that there is not only a holy and good spirit within and that 's but in too few but there 's also an evill and seducing spirit within and that 's in too many even the spirit that doth bewitch men and draw them aside from the doctrines and commands of the Spirit of truth and to strive by all means to draw the people off from giving heed to seducing spirits is not to observe the ordinances of the world and traditions of men as you pervert the text but to obey the commands of Gods true spirit 1 Tim. 4.12 Mat. 7.15 1 Joh. 4.1 who foretelling of false Prophets and false Spirits often in the Word commands exhorts admonisheth to beware of such not to give heed to such and not to beleeve every spirit but to try them Quest 18 Whether they be not seducers which tell people these are the ordinances of God which God never commanded as sprinkling Infants telling people of a Sacrament which there is no Scripture for and draw them from the spirit within to follow your imaginations and inventions Answ They who are guilty of calling humane inventions Gods ordinances are seducers we confesse But for the sprinkling Infants as you scornfully call Baptisme which is Gods ordinance for he hath ordained and commanded it to be observed I have already given you the grounds of it out of the Scriptures and we cal it a Sacrament as being a tearme best expressing the nature of it which you would confesse if you understood it And for the spirit within I have already told you out of Scripture that we are not blindfolded to follow the dictates thereof but to try them by the Spirit speaking in the Word And thus to draw men from the spirit within is not to follow our own imaginations since God by his holy Spirit commands the same Quest 19 Whether you have the same spirit which was in Christ the Apostles and Prophets which gave forth the Scriptures seeing you act contrary to the Scriptures and follow your own inventions and tradition and so erre from them Answ They that do beleeve or act any thing contrary to the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles are not led by the same spirit but in saying that we do this herein I must tell you that you doe falsly and flatly belie us since both we can and you see we do prove our Ministeriall actions to be agreeable to the Scriptures Quest 20 Whether ever Christ and his Apostles did first Baptize and then preach faith and repentance twenty or thirty years afterwards Answ Christ himself was Baptized being a person not capable of faith Heb. 12.2 and repentance for he was above both of faith he was the author and finisher Joh. 3.16 1 Pet. 2.22 the person in whom we are to beleeve and of repentance he was not capable who knew no sin and the Baptisme of Christ sure it is to be our pattern and grand example The Apostles also baptized many persons who had not true Faith and Repentance but were Hypocrites as Simon Magus Alexander the Coppersmith Demas Diotrephes And Simon Magus had repentance preached unto him after he was baptized many days Act. 8.13 22. as the Texts clearly expresses From all which Examples it is manifest that Faith and Repentance are not necessarily required of all persons as to the reception of Baptism but to the blessed effects and fruits thereof pardon of sin c. 2. Neither are children also absolutely and altogether destitute of Faith and Repentance they have these Graces in the power though not in the act In the seed though not in the fruit Lev. 25.41 42. In the promise for and in their behalf though not in the present actual performance Mat. 18.3 4 5 6 7. Acts 16.33.18.8 Therefore called the servants of God believers little ones that believe in me And under the general notion of families and housholds they are rankt amongst persons baptized converted and serving the Lord. Quest 21 Whether ever Christ and his Apostles received 100 or 200 pounds a year for Preaching the Gospel Answ Christ himself when he preached the Gospel was maintained by the gifts and benevolence of his Auditors who ministred unto him of their substance And the Apostles for Preaching the Gospel had more I believe then 100 l. Mar. 15.41 or 200 l. a year for many of their Converts sold all their estates Act. 4.34 37. and brought it and laid it down at the Apostles feet for saith the Apostle Rom. 15.27 1 Cor. 9.11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things is it a great matter if we reap your carnal things Quest 22 What Scripture is there to limit God to a place calling it a Church when as the Church is in God 1 Thes 1.1 Answ We do not limit God to a place who is every where Jer. 23.23 Mat. 18.20 and filleth the World but yet after a special manner When two
and followers were either guilty of the sin or liable to the curse Quest 11 Whether aâ—y naturall man can preach the Gospell yea or no. Answ He cannot preach the Gospell who understands it not and he that in some good measure understands the Gospell is not to be called a naturall man because 1. The contents of the Gospell are the things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.13 which the naturall man receives not neither knows them and 2. Because knowledge Isa 11.2 wisdome and understanding especially of spirituall things are the gifts of the Spirit with which gifts spirituall the Ministers of the Gospell are through the use of means endowed some more plentifully some more sparingly 1 Cor. 12.11 according as God by his holy Spirit blessing our studies has imparted unto us who distributes to every one severally as he will Quest 12 Whether that any Ministers of God was made Ministers by the will of man or no shew it me by the Scriptures Answ There is no Minister of God is or can be made so by the will of man only but by man in subordination to the minde and will of God for 1. God by his holy Spirit puts it into our hearts to use the means to be qualifyed for so great a calling 2. He blesseth and prospereth our studies and endevours for the attainment of those gifts which qualifie us for it 3. He gives us hearts to imply those qualifications in his service which gifts and qualifications being examined and approved by the more able learned and reverend Fathers of the Church 1 Tim. 5.21 22. Tit. 1.5 we are so by them through fasting prayer and imposition of hands set apart to this office Paul and Barnabas though they were called of God immediately and by miracle to the office of the Apostleship Act. 13.2 3. which no man must hope for since yet even they were commanded by the Elders to be sent forth through fasting prayer and imposition of hands Quest 13 Shew me it by the Scriptures whether a man shall grow up to that condition that he need no man teach him but the Lord or no. Answ We must not look for any immediate extraordinary miraculous teaching by revelation from the Lord And yet all men are taught of God too some more some lesse according as 1. They have soules more or lesse capable of teaching 2. As they more or lesse apply themselves to the means which God hath ordained for our learning and instruction and according to our endevors in the use of means so God gives his blessing thereupon That promise Jer. 31.34 they shall teach no more every man his neighbour saying Know the Lord for all men shall know me from the least to the greatest is expressed indeed to be fulfilled under the Gospell Heb. 8.4 10. because the means of knowing God under the Gospell are more plentifull and effectuall then under the Law to wit through the revelation of Jesus Christ and the miraculous inspiration of his Apostles immediately from heaven And whereas t is promised thy children shall be taught of the Lord Isa 54.13 this promise is fulfilled in that we have the teaching the doctrine of the Lord Jesus even his holy Gospell who came down from heaven on purpose to teach us Tit. 2.11 12. Tit. 2.11 12. The grace of God which brings down salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying c. thus we are taught by the Lord Jesus outwardly in the doctrine of his Gospell and inwardly by the motions and dictates of his holy Spirit And yet for all this the best and most knowing of men aime not to such a perfection of knowledge in his gifts as not to need teaching because whilest we are in this life we know but in part 1 Cor. 13.9 10.11 12. and prophesie but in part but when that which is perfect c. Quest 14 Whether they be not Antichrists and disobey Christ that have the chiefest places in Assemblies stand praying in the Synagogues which Christ did forbid his Disciples to act such things and cryed woe against those that did act them Answ They that vain-gloriously affect the chiefest places in the Assemblies to offer up their private prayers standing in publick places that they may be seen and they that love to be called of men Master are hypocrites and sinners and lyable to the woe denounced by Christ against such But it is one thing to occupy the chief place in any meeting for some one must have it and another thing out of pride and vain-glory to affect it and so of being called Master T is one thing to stand praying in the publick Assemblies that the people may both see and hear and joyne with us and another thing to stand praying privately in publick meetings only to be seen and thought religious And whereas you seem to apply these mistaken and misunderstood sayings of Christ to all Ministers and most uncharitably demand whether such be not Antichrists to this I shall only say the Lord forgive you the hardnesse of your heart and unjust censures of your Christian brethren Is it a mark of Antichrist to preach and pray with the people of God in publick and at such times to stand in an higher and more convenient place that the people may hear and joyne with us examples of which practise I have already given you out of Scripture If we do these things in the pride of our hearts the Lord only knowes it and will avenge it T is not for you to censure and condemn us herein for in so doing you discover more pride of heart and look more like Antichrist then those you uncharitably taxe and tearm so Quest 15 Whether they be not Antichrists and of the Devill and no Ministers of Christ which doth not abide in the Doctrine of Christ Answ They that swerve from the Doctrine of Christ are of the spirit of Antichrist 1 Joh. 4.6 And they that oppose the dictates and commands of the Spirit of truth speaking in the words are led by the spirit of errour Isa 8.44 which is the Devill who was a lyer from the beginning Mat. 4.4 6. and afterward coloured his lies with errours with the words of truth perverted quoting and misapplying the Scriptures the better to insinuate his falshoods which things I could wish were not too applyable to you and your sect I am sure that your malice and hatred to Ministers because they oppose your errours your bitter envyings raylings and revilings both of them and other your Christian brethren whom you call carnall the wicked and the people of the world your false and uncharitable applications of the woes and curses of the Scriptures to all such who are wiser then to be brought under your delusions and in a word your justifying your selves and condemning others are all of them undenyable signes that you are not led by the spirit of truth which is the
the Spirit of holiness gilding painting and setting out sinfulness and vice with the title shew and flourish of godliness and vertue thus covetousness on the one hand wears the painted mask and flourish of providence and good husbandry and prodigal profuseness on the other hand of nobleness and generosity Thus riot and excess drunkenness and gluttony carry the fair flourishing titles of bountifulness good fellowship and freedom of spirit Thus wantonness and uncleanness are painted over with the specious tearms of amorous kindeness and Courtship and pride and haughtiness of magnanimity greatness of spirit superiority of rank I might instance in most of sins and vices how men are inveigled and cousened into them by the Devil under the shews and false glosses of pretended vertues For full well that subtil Serpent knows that there is nothing so beautiful and comely nothing that hath so much power to win upon the hearts and affections of men as vertue and holiness and therefore in their habits and attire doth he dress his deformed strumpet vices puts them in colours and sends them forth under their names and titles and hence it comes to pass that the silly souls of men are so often cheated with the beautiful poyson of sinfulness whilst vicious dispositions undiscernibly insinuate themselves into our affections under the attire and dress of vertuous qualifications 2 Cor. 11.24 But thus the Devil transforms himself into an Angel of light whilst baiting his suggestions either with counterfeit vertues on the one hand or with false glosses of spiritual graces on the other he entraps the souls of men in the snares of sinfulness and error and leads them captivity captive to his pit destruction § 38 There are two Familiars whereby the Devil doth ordinarily work and lay his secret and subtil snares to catch cousen and delude our souls thus into sinfulness and error and these are either 1. the spirit of man or 2. the spirit of the world The dictates and workings of both which kinde of spirits being stirr'd and quickened by the evil spirit diametrally oppose the impressions and workings of the Spirit of truth First that the dictates of mans spirit the conceptions of natural sense and carnal reason with private resolutions thereupon do oppose the working of Gods Spirit our Saviour himself teacheth Matth. 16.17 Matth. 16.17 Flesh and bloud hath not revealed this unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven So that flesh and bloud hath their Revelations that is private men have their opinions and conceits which oppose the truth that is revealed from heaven The same opposition of private resolution to holy inspiration doth St. Peter observe 2 Pet. 1. ult 2 Pet. 1. ult For prophesies of old time came not by the will of Man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost not as they were moved by their owne private will wit judgement reason and resolution but as they were moved by the holy Ghost Et haec ideo dicuntur c. Glos ord These things are therefore said by the Apostle that no man should presume to interpret the holy Scripture after his owne private minde or fancy as too often opposing and thwarting perverting and wresting the same and the meaning of the holy Ghost therein The Church of Christ hath in all ages been infested and in these last times more then ever with such kinde of persons who pretending to be holy men of God to have the gift of prophesie and interpretation of scripture even to speak by the holy Ghost and yet are led by their own ghost onely following their own private will and desires imaginations and opinions as their onely guide and dictator who pretend to the Spirit of God and yet will not admit at any hand of other spirit then their own of other truth then the vision of their own heads or of other directions then the motions of their own hearts rejecting renouncing and crying down all but what themselves call holy with the Donatists of old Quod volumus sanctum est that they will have to be holy right and true shall be so and nothing else 't is the very ground whereupon this last upstart crew of Quakers build all their resolutions and strange fanatick opinions and heresies even that which they call the light within us This say they is the onely Judge we must follow the Pilot we must steer by the voyce whereunto we must give ear the onely Sanctuary to which we must fly for resolution never remembring how this sanctuary is profan'd by continual acts of spiritual fornication or idolatry therein committed whilst in stead and even in opposition to God and Spirit of all truth they enshrine and idolize their owne fond vain and lying imaginations which the Lord by his Prophet calls the vanity and deceitfulnesse of their own heart Jer. 14.4 Jer. 14.14 The Lord said unto me the Prophets prophesie lies in my Name I have not sent them neither did I command them neither spake I unto them but they prophesie unto you a false vision and divination and vanity and the deceitfulnesse of their own heart But this delusion of mans own spirit following the deceitfull dictates of his own heart is seldome mentioned in holy scripture without heavy threats denounced both against such deluders and all that suffer themselves to be deluded by them as you may read in the following words And again Ezek. 13.3 Ezek. 13.3 Woe unto the foolish Prophets which follow their own spirit and have seen nothing nothing but what their own foolish spirit dictates to them Nor were there such under the Law onely but under the Gospel also They are noted by the Apostle Col. 2.18 Col. 2.18 Who intrude into those things which they have not seen or which they understand not being vainly puft up by their fleshly minde sensualitalis non rationis Gloss following the dictates of sense rather then of right reason and in this place the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is remarkable for even by that 't is easie to distinguish betwixt the dictates of a mans own carnal and sensual spirit and the impressions of Gods holy Spirit for the guidance of the minde The dictate of the fleshly spirit is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inflatio a puffing up but the impression of the holy Spirit is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 afflatio an inspiration indeed but without inflation or puffing up The heavenly wind of Gods Spirit may fill but it never puffs up or swels the heart but rather humbles and abaseth the Spirit of man which is most conformable to the Spirit of Christ according to his own command Matt. 11.29 Mat. 11.29 Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart the minde that is either puft up with pride vain-glory and false conceited excellency in it self or that swels with malice hatred or envy towards others is not inspired with the celestiall Breath or Spirit of
6.15 except our feet be shod with the preparation of repentance whereby we forsake our sins Therefore before the Gospell it self was published this was first proclaimed both by Christ and his forerunner Repent Mat. 3.2 4.17 1 Cor. 11.28 for the kingdome of God is at hand In vain to participate of those mysteries of our salvation the body and bloud of our Lord till first by self-examination we have cast out the venome of our sinfull doings by repentance and stedfast purposes of amendment In a word it is our sins unrepented that make void and ineffectuall all the blessed means of Grace and of the Spirit 1 Thess 5.19 Ephes 4.30 by those it is we quench the Spirit we grieve the Spirit we resist the Spirit we provoke the Spirit and poyson the blessed nature of life so that all the conveyances of the Spirit are barren and unfruitfull whilest they reflect upon hardened and impenitent hearts See therefore repentance enjoyned as to the receiving of the holy Ghost Act. 2.38 8.19 And I would to God that all who pretend to the holy Spirit of God or to any the fruits and graces of the Spirit would first learn before they make their boast of the Spirit truly to repent them of their sins and to root out of the ground of their hearts all the fruits of the flesh Gal. 5.19 20 21. which are adultery fornication uncleannesse lasciviousnesse idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulation wrath strife seditions heresies envyings murthers drunkennesse revellings c. When these all of these sinfull fruits are extirpated out of the ground of the heart there may be then some hopes that our prayers and other divine acts and offices performed in the sincerity of our souls may prevail with God for the direction and comfort of his Spirit of grace and truth God which hast taught the hearts of thy faithfull people by the sending to them the light of thy holy Spirit grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things and evermore to rejoyce in his holy comfort through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Spirit one God world without end Amen THE END From Borwick in Lancashire Decemb. 1. 1653. A CATALOGUE of some Books Printed for Richard Royston at the Angel in Ivie-lane London A Paraphrase and Annotations upon all the Books of the New Testament by Henry Hammond D. D. in fol. The Practical Catechisme with all other English Treatises of Henry Hammond D.D. in two volumes in 4o. Dissertationes quatuor quibus Episcopatus Jura ex S. Scripturis Primaeva Antiquitate adstruuntur contra sententiam D. Blondelli aliorum Authore Henrico Hammond in 4o. A Letter of Resolution of six Quaere's in 12o. Of Schisme A Defence of the Church of England against the Exceptions of the Romanists in 12o. The names of several Treatises and Sermons written by Jer. Taylor D.D. viz. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Course of Sermons for all the Sundaies of the Year Together with a Discourse of the Divine Institution Necessity Sacrednesse and Separation of the Office Ministerial in fol. 2. Episcopacy asserted in 4o. 3. The History of the Life and Death of the Ever-blessed Jesus Christ 2d Edit in fol. 4. The Liberty of Prophesying in 4o. 5. An Apology for authorized and Set-forms of Liturgie in 4o. 6. A Discourse of Baptisme its institution and efficacy upon all Beleivers in 4o. 7. The Rule and Exercises of holy living in 12o. 8. The Rule and exercises of holy dying in 12o. 9. A short Catechisme for institution of young persons in the Christian Religion in 12o. 10. The Reall Presence and Spirituall of CHRIST in the Blessed Sacrament proved against the Doctrine of Transubstantiation in 8o. Certamen Religiosum or a Conference between the late King of England and the late Lord Marquis of Worcester concerning Religion at Ragland Castle Together with a Vindication of the Protestant Cause by Chr. Cartwright in 4o. The Psalter of David with Titles and Collects according to the matter of each Psalm by the Right honourable Chr. Hatton in 12o. Boanerges and Barnabas or Judgement and Mercy for wounded and afflicted souls in several Soliloquies by Francis Quarles in 12o. The life of Faith in Dead Times by Chr. Hudson in 12o. Motives for Prayer upon the seven dayes of the Week by Sir Richard Baker Knight in 12o. The Guide unto True Blessedness or a Body of the Doctrine of the Scriptures directing man to the saving knowledge of God by Sam. Crook in 12o. Six excellent Sermons upon several occasions preached by Edward Willan Vicar of Hoxne in 4o. The Dipper dipt or the Anabaptists duck'd and plung'd over head and ears by Daniel Featly D. D. in 4o. Hermes Theologus or a Divine Mercury new descants upon old Records by Thcoph Wodnote in 12o. Philosophical Elements concerning Government and Civil society by Thomas Hobbs of Malmesbury in 12o. An Essay upon Statius or the five first books of Publ. Papinius Statius his Thebais by Tho. Stephens School-master in S. Edmonds-bury in 8o. Nomenclatura Brevis Anglo-Latino Graeca in usum Scholae Westmonasteriensis per F. Gregory in 8o. Grammatices Graecae Enchiridion in usum Scholae Collegialis Wignorniae in 8o. A Discourse of Holy Love by Sir Geo. Strode Knight in 12o. The Saints Honey-Comb full of Divine Trums by Rich. Gove Preacher of Henton S. Gorge in Somersetshire in 8o. Devotion digested into several Discourses and Meditations upon the Lords most holy Prayer Together with additional Exercitations upon Baptism The Lords Supper Heresies Blasphemy The Creatures Sin The souls pantings after God The Mercies of God The souls complaint of its absence from God by Peter Samwaies Fellow lately resident in Trinity College Cambridge in 12o. Of the Division between the English and Romish Church upon Reformation by Hen. Fern D. D. in 12o. Directions for the profitable reading of the Scriptures by John White M. A. in 8o. The Exemplary Lives and Memorable Acts of 9. the most worthy women of the world 3 Jews 3 Gentiles 3 Christians by Tho. Heywood in 4o. The Saints Legacies or a Collection of promises out of the Word of God in 12o. Judicium Universitatis Oxoniensis de Solemni Lega Foedere Juramento Negativo c. in 8o. Certain Sermons and Letters of Defence and Resolution to some of the late Controversaries of our times by Jasper Mayne D. D. in 4o. Janua Linguarum Reserata sive omnium Scientiarum Linguarum seminarium Auctore Cl. Viro J. A. Comenio in 8o. A Treatise concerning Divine providence very seasonable for all Ages by Tho. Morton Bishop of Duresme in 8o. Animadversions upon Mr. Hobbs his Leviathan with some Observations upon Sir Walter Rawleighs History of the World by Alex. Rosse in 12o. Fifty Sermons preached by that learned and reverend Divine John Donne in fol. Wits-Common-wealth in 12o. The Banquet of Jests new and old in 12o. Balzac's Letters the fourth part in 8o. Quarles Virgin Widow a Play in 4o. Solomons Recantation in 4o. by Francis Quarles Amesti antisynodalia in 12o. Christ's Commination against Scandalizers by John Tombes in 12o. Dr. Stuart's Answer to Fountain's Letter in 4o. A Tract of Fortifications with 22 brasse cuts in 4o. Dr. Griffubs Sermon preached at S. Pauls in 4o. Blessed birth-day printed at Oxford in 8o. A Discourse of the state Ecclesiastical in 4o. An Account of the Church Catholick where it was before the Reformation by Edward Boughen D.D. in 4o. An Advertisement to the Jury-men of England touching Witches written by the Author of the Observations up Mr. Hobbs Leviathan in 4o. Episcopacy and Presbytery considered by Hen. Fern D.D. in 4o. A Sermon preached at the Isle of Wight before His Majesty by Hen. Fern D. D. in 4o. The Commoners Liberty or the English-mans Birth-right in 4o. An Expedient for composing Differences in Religion in 4o. A Treatise of Self-denial in 4o. The holy Life and Death of the late Vi-countesse Falkland in 12o. Certain Considerations of present Concernment Touching this Reformed Church of England by Hen. Fern in 12o. Englands Faithful Reprover and Monitour in 12o. Newly published The grand Conspiracy of the Members against the Minde of Jews against their King As it hath been delivered in four Sermons by John Allington B. D. in 12o. Now in the Presse Of Fundamentals in a notion referring to Practise by H. Hammond D. D. in 12o. ERRATA IN the Epistle subscribed Devotor r. Devotour p. 1. Q. 1. li. 1. add after Gospel you preach p. 5. Q. 19. for are r. act p. 5. Q. 21. for retain r. receive p. 7. l. 7. for dimensions r. divinations p. 10. l. 22. for visible r. visibly p. 11. l. 11. for that r. the. p. 24. 5. for imply r. imploy p. 25. l. ult for aim r. arrive p. 28. for with r. and. p. 39. l. 26. for understood r. understand l. 27. for which r. they p. 47. l. 18. for manfully r. more fully p. 12. l. 28. for souls r. selfes p. 81. l. 29. for since r. some p. 85. l. 19. for silent r. silenc't p. 94. l. 2. for stand r. pretend p. 109. l. 27. for beautifull r. banefull p. 111. for private men have r. men have their private p. 126. l. 17. for following r. flowing p. 141. l. 1. for the r. their p. 145. l. 28. for perfect r. proper p. 148. l. 11. for which r. what p. 153. l. 12. for perspicable r. prospicable for and r. or for our r. your p. 255. l. 19. for nature r. waters
The QVAKERS WILDE QUESTIONS Objected against the Ministers Of the GOSPEL And many Sacred Acts and Offices Of RELIGION With brief Answers thereunto TOGETHER WITH A Discourse of the Holy Spirit His impressions and workings On the SOVLS of Men. Very seasonable for these times By R. SHERLOCK B. D. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 COR. 11.19 London Printed by E. Cotes for R. Royston at the Angel in Ivie-lane 1654. To the Honorable Sir Robert Bindloss Baronet SIR THese following Questions being sent to your house and receiving their short and sudden answers under your roof and the Author his subsistence from your courtesie and beneficence It being also your desires they should be made publick if perhaps some satisfaction might be given to any of those too too many seduced and wavering souls amongst us Be pleased therefore that under your name and patronage they may appear as a covert to veil their imperfections and defects Defective they must needs be in many respects neither can the Answers to so many strange scrupulous and unheard of questions being conceiv'd on a sudden by way of answer to a Letter be expected to be satisfactory and full as to all particulars Longer time for further and more mature deliberation might in some good measure have supplyed many defects but that I was unwilling to add any thing to what was dispatcht away by way of answer to the Letter or rather Libell of the scrupulous Questioner that so both might appear to the eye of the world verbatim without addition or diminution Hereunto as a back or second I have annexed a Discourse both short and plain Of the Holy Spirit of God so much by those sâ—duced souls pretendâ—d unto and to the grief of all good Christian hearts too much profan'd by such pretences And 't is a Discourse which was desired by your virtuous Lady for her private satisfaction The subject whereof being fully cleer'd to the mindes of men by some more wise and abler judgements would both discover and strike at the root and dissolve the ground-work of many those infectious errours which at present so much overspread and prevaile amongst us And indeed how can we expect or hope for other since 1. unity and uniformity both in the publick worship of God whereby all men of the same Church and Religion do worship God in the same way even with one heart and one mouth and after one manner is not onely decryed but also dismist our Congregations And since 2. the Pale of Ecclesiasticall discipline is pull'd down by whose coercive laws all men were kept within the limits of the true Faith and of Obedience and Charity as to the externall profession thereof And since 3. under the name and priviledge of Liberty of conscience licentiousnesse of opinion hath got footing in the mindes of men who take liberty under that pretext to become vain in their imaginations to be of this or that or what opinion they please in Religion As also to perform the publick parts of divine worship according to the severall dictates of their owne mindes even in any way but what is decent reverend uniform and orderly Since such I say is the sad and confused condition of our Church it is no marvail though there daily arise new Sects and new Opinions such which are not onely strange wilde and fanatick but even destructive to the very being of true Christianity Nor must we hope for other till the God of all truth and peace be pleased together with his truth to restore unity and order in his worship whereof for our manifold sins he hath so long deprived us It is most true what the Apostle saith of the necessity of heresies 1 Cor. 11.19 They must come Ad hoc enim sunt Haereses ut fides habendo tentationem habeat etiam probationem Tert. de praesc adv Haeret. c. 1. that they which are approved may be made manifest But it is as true what our Saviour saith of Offences in general Matt. 18.7 Woe unto them by whom they come Their condition must needs be sad and deplorable who broach and introduce the infection as being herein the instruments of Satan or in the language of our Lord They are of their Father the Devill Joh. 8.44 and his works they doe for he was a lyar from the beginning and abode not in the truth Now although this Grand-father and promoter of lies aud untruths be by the God of all power and goodnesse enchained and limited otherwise he had long since overrun the world as in times of Paganisme of old Yet sometimes for the sins of a people whereof we are now too sensible his chain is lengthened 1 Pet. 5.8 and the roaring Lyon hath more scope then ordinary to roam about seeking whom he may devour And he devours or destroyes the souls of men two wayes 1. By blinding their unstandings whereby they become apt to be seduced in the entertainment of erroneous opinions and belief of lies 2. By poysoning their affections with the false paint of worldly vanities whereby they are inveigled into sinfulness and vice And now Sir that neither you nor any that belongs unto you may in either of these respects be deceived and perish neither with the blinde and giddy to fall into the ditch of error on the one hand or with the vicious and unclean to wallow in the mire of sinfulnesse on the other but to keep the way of the righteous and to walk in the path of the just which is no other undoubtedly but the way of your owne peace and tranquillity here and eternall felicity hereafter it shall be the endevour and is the daily prayer Sir of Your respective Devotor R. Sherlock The Quakers Questions The Letter of Questions Endorsed To the Priest at Borwick deliver The Quakers Questions directed by them as above To all you professed Ministers who have taken the title of the Ministers of the Gospell of Christ upon you who is the end of the Law and Prophets and shadowes who shadowed him forth a few Questions to you that have taken this office upon you Quest 1 WHether the Gospell be the same the Apostles preached and if it be why goe you to Oxford or Cambridge when the Apostle saith The Gospell he preached was not after man neither was he taught it by man Q. 2 Whether you can give another meaning to the Scriptures then they are or whether the Apostles did not give the meaning to them when they spoke them forth yea or no and if they did what need learned men to give a meaning to them Q. 3 Shew me by the Scripture who ever was made a Minister of Christ that was called of men Master Q. 4 Shew me by the Scriptures where ever the Ministers of Jesus Christ tooke Tithes of the people or Augmentations for preaching the Gospell Q. 5 Shew me by the Scriptures and what Scripture you have which speaks of the Word two Sacraments which you tell
the cursed tares of many and strong delusions for that subtil Serpent full well knows how both easily and powerfully to insinuate his Lyes and Errors into mindes unsetled and not grounded in the knowledge of the Truth So that most truly is that complaint of the Lord by his Prophet Hosea verified of this people Hos Hos 4.6 4.6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge even for lack of what they so much boast of That grand Enemy the Prince of Lyes hath taken them in the very Net themselves have made even in the snare of self-conceited knowledge and holiness Rom. 1.22 whilest supposing themselves wise they became fools And pretending to the Spirit of God whom they rightly know not they are intrapt by the Spirit of Error and miserably seduced to the ruine of their souls Hence it is chiefly though not only hence through ignorance intermixt with pride that the Devill hath made so great a harvest of tares overgrowing and choaking the pure wheat of Truth Matth. 13.25 No Age of the Church having ever been so fruitful in Heresies and Errors whilest the ever blessed Name of the Spirit of God is abused by persons most impudently pretending to him that yet remain ignorant of him for had they known this Lord of life it had not been possible the spirit of Delusion could have prevailed so far with them as to infix so many Lyes Impostures and Blasphemies upon his score as therefore Saint Paul directed the Athenians to the knowledge of the true God whom they ignorantly worshipped Act. 17.23 and so their pious intentions through ignorance degenerated into gross Idolatries so it cannot but be an office both seasonable and charitable as also of great benefit and present necessity plainly to set down and deliver the true Orthodoxall Doctrine of the Holy Ghost his Impressions and Workings on the soul of man that so men may have a right understanding of this ever Blessed Person of the Godhead so much mistaken and his Sacred Name to the high offence of his Majesty so much profaned by impudent and false pretences A DISCOURSE OF THE Holy Spirit § 1 THE Doctrine of the Holy Ghost in respect both of his Person and Office is by the Nicene Creed thus clearly and fully set down I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord and giver of life who proceedeth both from the Father and the Son who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets To give you my Comment upon this Text were but to hold a candle to the Sun the Doctrine delivered is so clear and perspicuous All that can be said upon this Article of our Christian Faith is reducible to four heads 1. Of the Person of the Holy Ghost in himself 2. Of his Office or Workings on the mindes of men 3. Of the trial of the true from false spirits 4. Of the means to be made partakers of the Spirit of Truth The two first are doctrinal and speculative points for the rectifying and fitting the understanding rightly to conceive and believe aright this Article of Christian Faith The two last are practical and applicatory for the guidance of our actions and Christian performances according to this belief § 2 The more clearly to understand the Doctrine of the Spirit of God it will be necessary to use the light of some distinctions for so the naked and plain truth of any thing is most clearly and distinctly seen when namely 't is divided and distinguisht from its conjunction with other things of the same or like name and nature which is the ground of that old Maxime Qui bene distinguit bene docet The way to teach well or clearly to deliver any truth is rightly to distinguish that truth from other truths that are of near affinity thereunto either in name or nature or in the words of the Apostle which is the language of the Spirit of Truth Rightly to divide the Word of Truth 2 Tim. 2.15 2 Tim. 2.5 which was one of those many qualifications of the Apostles of Christ wherewithall they were immediately inspired by this Spirit of Truth for the propagation of the Gospel intimated in that he descended from Heaven upon them in cloven or divided Tongues § 3 And first that we mistake not the creature for the Creator Distinct 1 God over all blessed for ever we must remember that a spirit is either Create or Increate or more plainly sometimes the word Spirit is in holy Scripture applyed to the creature sometimes to the Creator § 4 There are several kindes of created spirits as 1. Those glorious Inhabitants of the highest Heavens the holy and blessed Angels Heb. 1.14.2 Are they not all ministring spirits c. Heb. 1.14 2. Those cursed inhabitants of the neather Hell the chained Devils 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 6.11.3 the Apostles styles them Ephes 6.12 spiritual wickednesses or wicked spirits 3. The souls of men which quicken and enliven these our frail and mortal bodies every man being composed of two natures a body and a soul or flesh and spirit Gen. Get. 2.7 2.7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the earth meaning his body and breathed into his Nosthrils the breath of life meaning his soul and so man became a living soul or living by his soul or spirit created or infused by God into his earthly body 4. The life and animation of each sensitive creature therefore we read Psal Psal 150.6 150.6 Let every thing that hath breath or spirit prayse the Lord All these are several kindes of created spirits some more some less pure fine and spiritual § 5 But there is an increated Spirit also who being neither made or created in himself is the great Maker and Creator of all spirits and of all things who being the prime Fountain and Original of all beeings is so eminent and transcendent a Beeing that as he is in himself he only knows himself nor is it possible for us or any creatures who derive their beeing from him to attain the perfect knowledge of him and therefore is he pleased in his holy Word wherein he reveals himself unto us to describe himself by the names and properties of his excellent and most eminent kinde of creatures which are spirits so that God is tearmed a Spirit Analogically because Angels or Spirits are the purest finest quickest most active and intelligent beeings But that we may not rank God with Angels or Spirits for he hath no match or equal we must learn this one general rule in Divinity Whatsoever is spoken of God in the Scriptures and withall is applyable to any creature must be understood of God eminenter by way of eminency and transcendency as the Prototype and grand Exemplar of that perfection which is applyed to the creature As here Angels are Spirits and the souls of men are spirits but God is not a Spirit at they are spirits for he